'Extract' review

Jason Bateman and Mila Kunis (Credit: Sam Urdank/Miramax)

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Extract plant owner Joel Reynold (Jason Bateman) finds a prime diversion from his increasingly dull marriage to Suzie (Kristen Wiig) with the arrival of a pretty new temp, Cindy (Mila Kunis, seriously underused). He intends to stay faithful, but Joel’s bad influence of a best friend, Dean (Ben Affleck), comes up with a plan to test Suzie’s fidelity instead. While Joel is distracted, Cindy carries out a scheme of her own.

The buzz: The latest comedy from Mike Judge, who scored TV hits with “Beavis and Butthead” and “King of the Hill,” but had less immediate success with his carelessly distributed films “Office Space” and “Idiocracy.” “Extract” has been granted a not-so-enviable Labor Day weekend release, but at least has more studio support than his work usually receives.

The verdict: As Judge’s most modest offering yet—less quotable than “Office Space,” less provocative than “Idiocracy”—“Extract” is one more film bound to find its audience outside of rather than in theaters. Absent the satirical edge of the filmmaker’s best work, the relative worth of this character-based comedy comes down to its strong cast. Bateman (enjoying his first solo lead on film since 1987’s “Teen Wolf Too”) continues his career ascent after a rejuvenating turn on “Arrested Development,” underplaying to great success in the midst of a collection of more colorful buffoons. Affleck matches him with an effortless shift into character actor mode as a shaggy, drug-loving bartender. David Koechner, J.K. Simmons, Dustin Milligan and KISS frontman Gene Simmons round out the ensemble, easily pinpointing the humor in one-note roles. Consistently amusing without ever becoming truly uproarious, the thin appeal of “Extract” doesn’t pose much threat to a comedy juggernaut like “The Hangover.” This one works best as an end of summer distraction.

Did you know? Judge actually started writing “Extract” after “Office Space,” but abandoned the project when Hollywood executives told him they wanted something more high concept. The DVD success of “Office Space” convinced him to get this workplace comedy off the ground.

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